CORVALLIS - Oregon State finds itself in ideal position for a trip to Omaha and the College World Series.

No. 3 national seed Oregon State wrapped up the Corvallis Regional in decisive fashion Sunday with a 12-0 victory over LSU, and will host the best-of-three Corvallis Super Regional this weekend against No. 14 seed Minnesota (44-13).

How dominant were the Beavers (47-10-1) in the four-team, double-elimination Corvallis Regional?

Well, in three victories they scored 35 runs and gave up only four, and hit .330 as a team with five home runs. The Beavers opponents - two games against LSU and one vs. Northwestern State - hit .179.

Oregon State All-American second baseman Nick Madrigal was named Most Outstanding Player in the Corvallis Regional.(Photo: Karl Maasdam)

Add stellar defense and three solid starts by pitchers Bryce Fehmel, Luke Heimlich and Kevin Abel in Sunday's regional finale and you have the makings of a team built for the CWS.

"Obviously the pitching performance from Kevin was outstanding," OSU coach Pat Casey said Sunday. "We continued to defend and swing the bats and play at a high level."

If that trend continues the Beavers have an excellent shot of landing in Omaha for the CWS, June 16-27.

Minnesota is a worthy opponent

But Big Ten champion Minnesota won't be an easy out.

The Golden Gophers, who defeated UCLA 13-8 on Sunday to wrap up the Minneapolis Regional, won a regional for the first time since 1977. They have never played in a super regional.

Minnesota is led by All-American shortstop Terrin Vavra. The Gophers are hitting .302 as a team and have a 3.04 team earned run average. OSU is hitting .319 with a 3.31 team ERA.

The teams last played early in the 2016 campaign, with OSU winning 8-7. You have to go back to 2001 to find any previous matchups.

Oregon State second baseman Nick Madrigal was named Most Outstanding Player in the Corvallis Regional.(Photo: Karl Maasdam)

Motivation for the Beavers

OSU's elimination-game loss to LSU last year in the CWS with a berth in the championship series on the line has been a source of motivation.

The Beavers set a school record with 56 wins in 2017, but the ultimate prize eluded them.

"I think going into this year it helped having a lot of guys with the experience to know what we're fighting for all off season," said second baseman Nick Madrigal, who was named Most Outstanding Player in the Corvallis Regional.

OSU hosted a super regional en route to CWS appearances in 2005, 2006, 2013 and 2017. The Beavers won back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007.

Beavers swinging hot bats

Based on regional comparisons between OSU's national title teams and the 2018 squad, this year's team was more dominant offensively.

The 2006 team hosted a regional and won all three games, outscoring the opposition 28-9.

The 2007 team opened regional play in the Charlottesville (Virginia) Regional and lost its second game, and survived three elimination games to advance to the super regional. The Beavers averaged 5.2 runs per game in the regional.

"I think our offense has been doing a pretty good job all year long," Madrigal said. "We feel confident from the top of the order to the bottom of the order."

Heading into the Corvallis Regional, perhaps the only question mark for OSU was finding a consistent No. 3 starter. That issue may have been resolved.

Third starting pitcher delivers

Abel, a freshman right-hander gave up just three hits and tossed eight shutout innings against LSU with eight strikeouts and one walk in his fifth career start.

Casey said Abel grew as the season progressed, and "made some unbelievable adjustments as far as how he believes in himself."

"Nothing's changed physically," Abel said after Sunday's gem. "I'm not throwing any differently. I don't look any different. I'm not throwing eight miles an hour harder.

"It's all just been up here," Abel said pointing to his head.

The Beavers posted two lopsided victories against LSU, winning Saturday's first matchup 14-1.

OSU designated hitter Kyle Nobach had three hits and four RBI in a 12-0 win Sunday over LSU that clinched the Corvallis Regional.(Photo: Karl Maasdam)

LSU (39-27), the No. 2 seed in Corvallis, defeated No. 4 seed Northwestern State, 9-5, in an elimination game Sunday afternoon. The Tigers needed to beat OSU on Sunday to force a decisive game Monday.

That wasn't in the cards.

LSU's pitching staff, already missing two starters due to late-season injuries, could not hold up against the Beavers' potent lineup. It was the Tigers' fourth game in three days.

"They have a great ballclub. No weaknesses," LSU coach Paul Mainieri said of the Beavers. "A very veteran team."

OSU jumped on LSU early in Sunday's game and never let up.

Lead-off hitter Steven Kwan homered in the OSU's three-run bottom of the first inning, and the Beavers increased their lead to 6-0 after three.

Designated hitter Kyle Nobach had three hits and four RBI, shortstop Cadyn Grenier homered, and the Beavers pounded out 14 hits.

"You work the entire time to try and get a team to be unified, and try to get on one mission and they accomplished that in this particular regional," Casey said.

MLB Draft

Several OSU players were expected to be selected early in the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft which began Monday and concludes Wednesday, including Madrigal, Grenier and outfielder Trevor Larnach.

Madrigal was projected as a high first-round pick.

"Right now I'm focused on Oregon State, wearing this uniform," Madrigal said. "It'll be a special moment. Whatever happens at the end of the day, I'll be thankful for."